The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-08-09
REED DECLAREDINSANE,
But Goes to a Friends House,
Not Into the Asylum.

New YORK, august 4--CharieS n. heedJ
the LAWYER who defended Guiteau, the
assass n OF President Garfield, and who at
tempted to drown himself last Saturday
morning by jumping from a Jersey City
ferry-bo4t, was yesterday sdjudged insane.
This will afford loophole by which he
may escape punishment for an attempt at
suicide. Friends came forward and inter-
coded in his behalf, and also promised to
give him a chance to make another start In
life. He is now a guest in the family of
Delmore Elwell, secretary of the Metro
politan Telephone company, at No. 355
Lafayette avenue, Brooklyn, and when he
gets stronger will decide on plans for the
future.
Justice Kilbreth, before whom Reed was
arraigned in the tombs Saturday. on the
charge of attempted suicide, committed
him to the care of the commissioners OF
Charities and Correction. They ordered
him confined in the insane pavilion at
Belleville, hospital, and committee was
appointed to inquire as TO his sanity. City
Physician Fitch, one of the committee. did
not examine the prisoner, but DIR. Wild
man, medical supervisor Of the pavilion,
and DR.. Matthew d. Field, the otner two
members, gave certificate that he was in
sane and suffering from melancholia.
Under ordinary circumstances Reed would
have been transferred to Wards Island to-
day and and placed in the insane asylum
there unless some friend appeared who was
willing to assume custody of his
person. Mr.. Elwell knew Reed
in Chicago in the days of his pros
perity, when he was one of the foremost
members of the Bar there and Dis
trict Attorney of Cook County, read
that no one had called at the hos
pital to see him since his incarceration. So
he went there TO help get his old friend on
his feet again. When he went into the
ward where Reed was confined the latter
burst into tesrs.
81 prayed God all day yesterday to send
some one to assist nae, and he has sent
vou," said The once brilliant lawyer. Then
he told little of his more recent history
how he had come to this city after the Gel
ebrated trial of Guiteau on the induce
ments held out by man whom he declared
had promised to assist him in get
ting practice, but had ended by
getting his money away from him.
After while he commenced to 60 down
hill, and everybody gave him kick. His
money gone, and unable to get practice,
he slipped away from the Barrett House
in the night, leaving his personal effects
behind because he was unable to pay a
large bill he had incurred and was asham-
ed to face the proprietors. That was the
middle of last April, and this explains
how he was SO seedy in appearance when
rescued from the river. Reed begged for
an opportunity to make man of himself.
He told his friend that he had been actu-
ally in want of food, was totally without
money to pay for decent lodgings, and had
become utterly discouraged. For two days
| before committing the act which gained
him such notoriety he did not know what
he was doing.
Mr.. Elwell went to the headquarters of
the Department of Charities and Correction
and interested the commissioners In Reeds
case. Armed with a letter to Warden
Rouke, he was able to have matters ar
ranged so that he might remove Reed TO
his own home. The Barrett House was
next visited and the proprietors discounted
their bill for SIS and Mr. Elwell gained
possession OF the effects that had been left
there as security. A leather covered trunk
with Charles III Reed, New York" con-
spicuously painted on one end, a travelling
bag with a similar address, two bundles
and an umbrella, were loaded on top of q
hanson cab, and with the Good Samaritan
inside wss driven to Bellevue Hospital.
For an hour and a half it stood in the yard,
midway between the insane pavilion
and the morgue, awaiting another fare, for
| their was a hitch about the discharge. DIR.
Field had signed the certificate to the
effect that Reed was insane, but DR.. Wild
man, who was understood to be ready to
do so, was absent, and there was no know
ing when he would return. Finally
Warden Rourke consented that the dis
charge should be granted at s:15 o'clock
| if no objections were made. While all
this was taking place Reed had received
visits from from several old acquaintance
and as many as half dozen homes had been
opened to him. People who could not go
to him sent encouraging messages and
offered to help him start anew. But Reed
had accepted Mr.. Elwells proffered hospi-
II a.